This is the third night of this freaking thing, which started near the Jesusita Hiking Trail above Santa Barbara and now threatens the whole city. We're in Goleta and have to keep the house closed up tight in case the wind shifts and rains us with ashes and smoke. At times this makes it hotter inside than out, though both last evening and this one I took advantage of a favorable wind to open the house up for about an hour.
Yesterday the fire was "static" until around 3:30 when all hell broke loose: what had been gray smokey plumes rising from a couple of canyons became an immense orange and black roiling cloud mass that flowed over the city and blotted out half the sky. My daughter sent her little boy to his other grandparents and her chickens to me. :eyes: It's okay; they have a huge yard and plenty of room for the mastiff and boxer that came with the boy. The chickens are very tame and happy in my side yard. One of my kittens tried to stalk them, but I stopped her.
We're doing okay. My daughter and husband finally evacuated themselves tonight and went to his parents' home in Goleta North. Thank God--now I know they're safe. That's several miles from here.
Today was much the same: from out here the fire didn't look so bad, although we knew it was spreading, but then the sundowner winds hit and ka-boom, black smoke all over the sky and a blood red moon. Now the fire is spreading in all directions.
We can see the flames quite clearly if we go stand across the street -- the fire jumped Hwy 154 and is apparently up to Patterson Avenue, overlapping part of the burn area from the Gap Fire. The other boundary is around Gibralter Road. Our neighbors across the street have taken in 4 people; we offered to take 2 of my daughter's friends but they found another bed.
I think I'll only start packing if the authorities map us into the Warning zone. Hubby is sure we're not in danger because the Gap Fire already burned so much fuel right above us -- but even so. Patterson is too damned close, only about two miles away. The new Warning zone ends about a mile from us.
Ugh. What a night. I think I'll take another stroll out front to have a look at the flames.
~~~ I just came back. Too much smoke to see the fire, and the moon is red even though it's high in the sky now. My neighbors across the street are up past their bedtime packing their cars.
Hekate
http://www.countyofsb.org/ceo/dept0.aspxFire Status
• 2,739 acres burned
• 10% contained
• Damage assessment in progress
initial estimate of 75 homes damaged or destroyed
• 4,715 homes evacuated (mandatory evacuation orders);
affects approx. 12,000 people
• 5,200 homes under evacuation warning;
approx. 12,000 people affected
• Residences threatened - 3500;
commercial properties threatened - 100
• 2,303 personnel on scene: 246 Engines, 62 crews
• 10 fixed wing aircraft and 15 helicopters
• 11 firefighter injuries
• Cause under investigation: Tip line – 805-686-5074
• Air quality warning remains in effect
• Estimated costs to date $1.8 million
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